Royal Hospital Kilmainham

Royal Hospital Kilmainham The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, was established and built between 1680 and 1684 and is now managed by the Office of Public Works

The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, was established and built between 1680 and 1684 as a retirement home for soldiers who had served in the British army. Permission for the project was granted by King Charles II at the instigation of James Butler, the Duke of Ormond. The cost of the construction was approximately £22,500 and was met by a levy on soldiers' pay. Standing on a 60 acre site, the hospital

is the oldest classical public building in Ireland. Erected on the ruins of the medieval hospital and monastery of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitallers), the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham has been witness to centuries of Ireland's history. Protected and maintained by the Historic Properties section of the Office of Public Works (O.P.W.), the building has, since 1991, been the home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Come and visit and see for yourself, the history of not only the building but also Kilmainham and how through the centuries, the development of this area has had the Royal Hospital at its core.

Earlier this year, we introduced you to Sculpture, one of our sculptures living on site here at the Royal Hospital. Scul...
01/09/2026

Earlier this year, we introduced you to Sculpture, one of our sculptures living on site here at the Royal Hospital. Sculpture has a companion opposite her in the mazes Painting.

The original lead casts attributed to Van Nost or Carpentier are today found in Stowe. Our copies were brought in during the massive restoration of the gardens under the careful eye of Elizabeth Morgan.

Together the two statues give you the spirit of the French garden designs that once graced these gardens. They hint at the different ideas of space, entertainment and use that befell the five acres of our Formal Gardens. Painting and Sculpture together bring a new dimension to our mazes.

Once upon a time Painting held a paintbrush in her outstretched hand. One day, we hope to return that paintbrush to her.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

When conservation work began on the younger section of the pensioners graveyard, a question lingered on how exactly we w...
21/08/2026

When conservation work began on the younger section of the pensioners graveyard, a question lingered on how exactly we were going to ensure that every name would be memorialised in the space they were buried in. Not all gravestones had been recovered, and would have to be replaced.

All names had been recorded, the memory preserved but there were some small discrepancies between numerous reports made over the years. In the end, the decision was to erect plaques at the end of each row. Recently put into place, they mark another phase completed of the conservation and renovation of the pensioners graveyard.

All names and details inscribed. Their memories preserved in the space they were buried in and in the grounds they would have spent their final years. Their stories not forgotten.

As we count down the days to National Heritage Week, our Bully's Acre tours are now sold out. However, we do have spaces...
11/08/2026

As we count down the days to National Heritage Week, our Bully's Acre tours are now sold out. However, we do have spaces available for September. Throughout the month, our weekends will be filled with stories of death and sorrow; families and loss and burial customs. From High Kings, to nameless infants, hear some of the stories of those buried within the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Where even in death your rank held sway. Join us to learn about the Royal Hospitals attitude and connection to death, burial and mourning rites.

Tickets are FREE and can be booked via Eventbrite. For more information email [email protected].

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1986129557973?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&_gl=1*11lhg4d*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjI5ODcxMDY3LjE3ODY0NTg3ODY.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODY0NTg3ODQkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODY0NTg3ODQkajYwJGwwJGgw

We are delighted to once again be taking part in National Heritage Week. Throughout the week in August we are offering m...
01/08/2026

We are delighted to once again be taking part in National Heritage Week. Throughout the week in August we are offering multiple events reflecting on and digging into different parts of the local and national history alongside the beautiful nature that thrives here. This is alongside our daily walking tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Our Formal Gardens tours looks like the nature thriving in the space, the policies that protect it and enhance the biodiversity and pollination while touching on the history of its development.

Bully's Acre Cemetery Tours looks at how the relationship between death, burial and mourning helped to strengthen, shape and strain the relationship between the Royal Hospital and the local community.

Finally, is our ONLY talk of this season. The amazing Las Fallon will be in to discuss how the Irish Fire Brigades responded to the call for help from the Northern Ireland government during the Belfast Blitz.

Bully's Acre and the Belfast Blitz can be prebooked via our Eventbrite while the Formal Garden Tours is a walk up event. For any information, please email [email protected].
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/87378929703?_gl=1*ldinzf*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTEwOTgxOTIxOC4xNzg1NTg4NTM1*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODU1ODg1MzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODU1ODg1MzQkajYwJGwwJGgw

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland Heritage Week

Throughout our graveyards, nature always finds a way to take a hold. In August, we will be continuing holding our Bully'...
28/07/2026

Throughout our graveyards, nature always finds a way to take a hold. In August, we will be continuing holding our Bully's Acre Cemetery Tours over the coming weekends.

Join us to learn about how the people of Dublin buried their dead. Hear of the infamous and unknown buried within the walls of Bully's Acre. Learn of the relationship between the community and the Royal Hospital where differing opinions on burial rites and mourning could be flashpoints of violence. From Vikings to victims of the RMS Leinster, hear of how both the living and the dead interacted with our cemeteries.

Tours are FREE but can be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1986129557973?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

For more information, email [email protected].
OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

With a slight lull in EU Presidency activity here at the Royal Hospital, we found ourselves busy preparing for a royal i...
24/07/2026

With a slight lull in EU Presidency activity here at the Royal Hospital, we found ourselves busy preparing for a royal invasion.

After years of loving care by our wonderful colleagues in Castletown House & Parklands, the portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte returned to be rehung in our Johnston Room in the North Range. These are official copies of their coronation portraits done by the studio of Allan Ramsay, the Scottish painter who also did the original coronation portraits. Once the dining room of the Master of the Hospital, these portraits would have dominated proceedings.

The return of these portraits mark the next stage in a gradual process to conserve and restore to their original location and grandeur all aspects of the unique portrait collection that makes its home in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

In 1941, 85 years ago, Belfast would be a target of the devasting Blitz attacks sweeping the islands. For the first time...
16/07/2026

In 1941, 85 years ago, Belfast would be a target of the devasting Blitz attacks sweeping the islands. For the first time, the North Irish government would ask the Irish government for assistance. Fire engines from multiple Dublin and Louth fire brigades would freely give assistance.

Join us on the 15th August at 3pm with the amazing Las Fallon for fascinating talk on both the Blitz and the Irish response and assistance given. Hear of the men including Jackie Conroy and Dan O'Dowd (pictured) and their experiences. Learn of what aid went up, how they responded, their experiences and the consequences of the act.

Tickets are FREE and can be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-belfast-blitz-of-1941-and-the-irish-response-tickets-1994130123881?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information email [email protected].

📸: Jackie Conroy/ Las Fallon

Today, we honoured all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on military service with the United Nations and ...
12/07/2026

Today, we honoured all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on military service with the United Nations and other international organisations in the service of peace with the National Day of Commemoration here at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

We remember those who have fallen and those who were left behind. The comrades, the families, friends and communities. We honour their sacrifice, their service and stories ensuring they are never forgotten. To tell the stories from every part of this island and take a moment to reflect.

Heritage Ireland OPW - Office of Public Works

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham has been chosen as one of the sites to host events during Ireland's EU Presidency. To acco...
05/07/2026

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham has been chosen as one of the sites to host events during Ireland's EU Presidency.

To accommodate this usage, for the rest of the 2026 season, the Great Hall and Chapel of the North Range are closed to the public.

Our daily walking tours WILL continue but will be outdoor only. Our Bully's Acre cemetery tours are scheduled to continue until the season ends. We look forward to welcoming you on tour during the season.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

No matter the obstacle, nature does her best every year to take a hold of our cemeteries. To fill them with colour, and ...
25/06/2026

No matter the obstacle, nature does her best every year to take a hold of our cemeteries. To fill them with colour, and help create an unusually peaceful environment for both the living and the dead.

Over multiple weekends in July join us to explore the personal, fascinating and stacked history of our cemeteries. Here of how these cemeteries tried and tested relationships, demonstrated people's understand of death and burial and a military complex. Hear of generations of families and some infamous characters as well.

Tours are FREE but need to be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1986129557973?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information email [email protected].

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

Address

Military Road
Dublin
KILMAINHAM

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm
Thursday 10am - 5:30pm
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5:30pm
Sunday 11am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+353469422450

Website

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